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THE CONSERVATION ACTION PLANFORTHE GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN2010-2020National Ganga River Basin AuthorityMinistry of Environment & ForestsGovernment of India

Prepared by R. K. Sinha, S. Behera andB. C. Choudhary2

MINISTER’S FOREWORDI am pleased to introduce the Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges river dolphin(Platanista gangetica gangetica) in the Ganga river basin. The Gangetic Dolphin is one of the lastthree surviving river dolphin species and we have declared it India's National Aquatic Animal.Its conservation is crucial to the welfare of the Ganga river ecosystem.Just as the Tiger represents the health of the forest and the Snow Leopard represents the healthof the mountainous regions, the presence of the Dolphin in a river system signals its goodhealth and biodiversity. This Plan has several important features that will ensure the existenceof healthy populations of the Gangetic dolphin in the Ganga river system.First, this action plan proposes a set of detailed surveys to assess the population of the dolphinand the threats it faces. Second, immediate actions for dolphin conservation, such as thecreation of protected areas and the restoration of degraded ecosystems, are detailed. Third,community involvement and the mitigation of human-dolphin conflict are proposed asmethods that will ensure the long-term survival of the dolphin in the rivers of India.This Action Plan will aid in their conservation and reduce the threats that the Ganges riverdolphin faces today. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. R. K. Sinha , Dr. S. K. Behera and Dr.B. C. Choudhary and others who have been working on this document. I look forward to theimplementation of this Conservation Action Plan.Regards,Jairam RameshMinister of State for Environment & Forests (Independent Charge),Government of India3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe are indebted to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Sri Nitish Kumar,Hon’ble Chief Minister of Bihar, and Sri Jairam Ramesh, Hon’ble Minister of State forEnvironment and Forests (Independent Charge), Government of India for their support indeclaring the Ganges River Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal, and to the NationalGanga River Basin Authority, Ministry of Environment and Forests, for constituting aWorking Group for the preparation of this Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges RiverDolphin and for financial support through the same.We are thankful to all the contributions received from the participants to the Workshop for theformulation of this Action Plan, held at Patna on the 22 and 23 February, 2010. We aregrateful especially to Dr. Randall R. Reeves, Chairman of the Cetacean Specialist Group ofInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Sri P. R. Sinha, Director, WildlifeInstitute of India, Dehradun, Sri B. A. Khan, Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Bihar,and Dr. A. R. Rahmani, Director, Bombay Natural History Society for their scientific andtechnical support during the Workshop and later. The participation, enthusiasm andwillingness to devote time and thought to our requests for advice and assistance are testimonyto their commitment to the Ganges River dolphin’s conservation.We are grateful to Sri Rajiv Gauba, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests,Government of India for his untiring support and encouragement for long term initiatives forGanges dolphins in India.Finally, thanks to Sri Shashank Srinivasan for his contribution to the editorial process of thisdocument.4

CopyrightReproduction of this publication for educational or non-commercial purposes is authorized without priorpermission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acjnowledged.CitationSinha, R. K., Behera, S. K., and Choudhary, B.C. 2010. The Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges RiverDolphin 2010-2020. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. 33 pp.Patna University, Patna5

CONTENTSPREAMBLE 5CHAPTER 1:INTRODUCTION 6CHAPTER 2:A SCIENTIFIC ACCOUNT OF THE SPECIES 9CHAPTER 3:THREATS TO THE GANGETIC DOLPHIN 12CHAPTER 4:STRATEGY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE RIVER DOLPHIN 15CHAPTER 5:RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN 18CHAPTER 6:ACTIONS FOR CONSERVATION OF THE GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN 22REFERENCES 25TABLE:POPULATION STATUS OF THE GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN IN THE GANGES RIVER SYSTEM 29APPENDICES 316

PREAMBLEThe Ganges River dolphin, Platanistagangetica gangetica, is one of the mostcharismatic mega-fauna of the Indiansubcontinent.It is among the four obligate freshwaterdolphins found in the world with the othersbeing the 'bhulan' or Platanista gangeticaminor in the Indus River in Pakistan, the'baiji' or Lipotes vexillifer in the YangtzeRiver in China, and the 'boto' or Iniageoffrensis in the Amazon River. The 'baiji'was reported to be functionally extinct in2006.The Ganges River dolphin is distributed inthe Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna andKarnaphuli-Sangu river systems of India,Nepal and Bangladesh. The total populationis estimated to be between 2500 and 3000individuals in its entire distribution range,out of which more than 80% is within Indianterritory.This species has been included in Schedule Iof the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972,in Appendix I of the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species(CITES), in Appendix II of the Conventionon Migratory Species (CMS) and categorisedas Endangered on the International Unionfor the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN)Red List.The Ganges River dolphin is extensivelymentioned in India’s mythological andhistorical literature. However, it was WilliamRoxburgh, the then Superintendent of theCalcutta Botanical Garden, who wrote thefirst scientific paper on this species in 1801.John Anderson published a report on itsbiology, including a distribution map, in1879 after which there is no record of furtherscientific work on this animal for the nextone hundred years.Ganges River dolphin were made under theGanga Action Plans (GAP) I (1985) and II(1991) through research and conservationprojects. These provided baseline scientificinformation about the species, including thefact that habitat degradation, throughpollution and reduced water flow, andpoaching were threatening its existence.The Prime Minister declared the GangesRiver dolphin as the National AquaticAnimal in the First Meeting of the NationalGanga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) onthe 5 th of October 2009. The Ministry ofEnvironment and Forests (MoEF)subsequently notified the Ganges Riverdolphin as the National Aquatic Animal onthe 10 th of May 2010 and constituted aWorking Group to prepare a ConservationAction Plan for the Ganges River dolphin.This plan recommends a number of specificconservation actions, including some relateddirectly to management. The challenge is toimplement these plans and ensure the longtermsurvival of the dolphin in the rivers ofIndia.Note:This Action Plan for the Conservationof the Ganges River dolphin has beenprepared under the auspices of theNational Ganga River Basin Authorityand thus these recommendationsconcern dolphin populations only inthe Ganga and its tributaries.Conservation recommendations for theBrahmaputra River and its tributarieswill be covered in a subsequentpublication.The first efforts in the 20th century todocument the status and threats faced by the7

Chapter 1INTRODUCTIONThere are three recognised species of riverdolphins, which inhabit rivers and estuariesin Asia and South America, and all areamong the most endangered cetaceans onEarth. In fact, one species, the 'baiji' orChinese river dolphin, was declaredfunctionally extinct in 2006 (Turvey et al2007; Hopkin 2007). The remaining speciesare the Amazon River dolphin, the GangesRiver dolphin and the Indus River dolphin.Although several marine dolphin species arecommonly found in rivers quite far upstream,river dolphins are morphologically andphylogenetically distinct from marinedolphins and most are restricted tofreshwater ecosystems. Because rivers aremore vulnerable to degradation than theocean, river dolphins are in worse shape thantheir seafaring cousins.Construction of embankments as floodcontrol measures in eastern Uttar Pradesh,Bihar and West Bengal has disrupted theconnections between the river and its floodplains and wetlands. About 3500kms ofembankment were constructed in Bihar post-Independence resulting in the increase of theflood prone area from 2.5 million ha toalmost 7 million ha. Similarly 1811kms and1184kms of embankment were constructedin Uttar Pradesh and West Bengalrespectively. Embankments interrupt accessto the spawning habitat for floodplaindependentfish and eliminate eddy-countercurrents where the Ganges River dolphinsspend much of their time. Dredging and theremoval of stones, sand, and woody debrisalso compromise the ecological integrity ofthe riverine environment, especially in smalltributaries. Increasing pollution in the rivermay adversely affect dolphin health and theirbioaccumulation may have seriousconsequences.The Ganges River dolphin is endemic to theIndian sub-continent and has a fairlyextensive distribution range. It is found inthe Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna andKarnaphuli-Sangu river systems of India andBangladesh, while a few individuals maysurvive in the Karnali, and the Sapta KosiRivers in Nepal. While there is nomeaningful estimate of range-wiseabundance, approximately 2500-3000Ganges River dolphins are assumed tosurvive across their entire range. Due to acontinued decline in its population, theIUCN changed its status from ‘Vulnerable’ to‘Endangered’ in 1996.Numerous factors exist for this decline; thedeliberate killing of Ganges River dolphinsfor oil and meat still occurs. The demand forthese products means that there is littleincentive for fishermen to reduce the bycatchor to release dolphins that are still alivewhen they are found entangled in nets. Theconstruction of more than 50 dams andbarrages within the Ganges River dolphin’shistoric range has drastically altered itshabitat and fragmented the meta-population.DISTRIBUTIONHistorical distribution“The water-hog is in all Hindustan rivers”said Babur in the Babur Nama (circa 1500AD). Probably by “all Hindustan rivers”,Babur was talking about the rivers of NorthIndia, where he had traveled widely. Cuvier(1836) claimed that the ‘susu’ ascended theGanges in great numbers to the limit of theirnavigability. Anderson (1879) recorded itsdistribution in the Ganges over an areacomprised between 77 0 E and 89 0 E; in theBrahmaputra it occurred throughout themain river, as far eastwards and upstream as95 0 E by 27 0 30'N. He also reported that evenin the month of May, when the Ganges wasvery low, dolphins were seen as far up theYamuna as Delhi. He also emphasised thatthe upstream range of this dolphin was onlylimited by insufficiency of water and by rockybarriers. The Ganges River dolphin occurredin the entire length of the Ganga andBrahmaputra, and all their tributaries fromthe delta at the Bay of Bengal till theHimalayan foothills, where only rocky8

HABITATWater levels in the Ganga are seasonal innature. Peak flows occur between July andSeptember when the river is fed by monsoonrun-off and Himalayan melt-water, whileleanest flow occurs from February to March.The flow in the Ganga and its tributaries isregulated, and the natural flow regime hasbeen disrupted, by the construction of damsand barrages. While there were occasionalreports of dolphin sightings in some of thesmaller tributaries of the Ganga during the1980s, it is now likely that dolphins havebeen completely extirpated from these riversdue to insufficient and inconsistent watersupplies. The large-scale diversion of riverwater for irrigation in the dry season causeswater flow to diminish especially betweenHaridwar and Allahabad.Habitat preferenceAlthough the Ganges dolphin is fluviatile inhabit, it may also be found in brackish water,though it never enters the sea. It is generallyassumed that salinity defines the downstreamlimits of its distribution, while physicalbarriers and low prey densities at highelevations define the upstream limits.Dolphins are abundant in the long stretchesof deep water in association with shallowwater meanderings, confluences and midchannelsand bars.The primary habitats preferred by theGanges River dolphins are characterised byan eddy-counter current system in the mainriver flow caused by a point bar formed fromsediments and deposits, a convergent streambranch, or by an upstream meander. They arealso found below sand bars and bridgeswhere eddies are formed.Being a mammal, the Ganges River dolphincan survive a wide range of temperaturefluctuations. It can tolerate temperatures aslow as 5 0 C in the River Karnali in the winterin Nepal, and as high as 35 0 C in the summerin the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.They have also been found in highly turbidwater in monsoon and it is thus assumed thatthe water temperature and turbidity are notsignificant factors in determining thedistribution of this species.Habitat FragmentationThe complex geomorphology of freshwaterand estuarine systems tends to concentratethe distribution of cetaceans in countercurrentsassociated with confluences,meanders and mid-channel islands (Hua etal., 1989; Smith, 1993; Smith et al., 1997,1998). The Ganges River dolphin populationwas fragmented by construction of the damsand barrages on the main stem of the Gangaand its tributaries (Smith et al., 2000).Barrages are low, gated diversion damscomprised of a series of gates used to controlthe elevation of an upstream ‘head pond’.Barrages also restrict the movement of riverdolphins and other aquatic mega-fauna,thereby separating them into subpopulations.Reeves et al., (1991) questioned the degree towhich dolphin subpopulations are isolated,suggesting that individuals may occasionallymove downstream through barrages.Dolphins in the main channel of the Gangawere split into two subpopulations in 1975when the Farakka Barrage wascommissioned. The Lower Ganga Barrage atNarora (1966) and the Middle GangaBarrage at Bijnor (1984) further fragmentedthe Ganga main stem population into foursubpopulations. Dolphins have now beenextirpated above the Middle Ganga Barrageat Bijnor. Today they occur in threesubpopulations bounded by the Bijnor,Narora and Farakka Barrages (Fig.1).Previous dolphin surveysAbundance monitoring of the dolphinpopulation has been conducted since theearly 1990s using direct visual counts fromvessels through continuous surveys, surveys indiscrete segments or point counts from theriver bank (Smith, 1993; Smith et al., 1994;Sinha et al., 2000). Methods wereinsufficiently detailed and hence it was not10

easy to evaluate bias, estimate precision, orreliably detect trends from the data. Inaddition, different workers used differentmethods, precluding direct comparison ofcounts in different stretches of differentrivers.There has been considerable internationalconcern regarding the endangered status ofthe Ganges River dolphin. The IUCNCetacean Specialist Group and otherresearchers have emphasised the importanceof establishing conservation priorities basedon scientifically credible abundance estimates(Perrin and Brownell, 1989, Smith andReeves, 2000a, IWC, 2001, Smith andJefferson, 2002).CONSERVATION STATUSThis species has been included in Schedule Iof the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972,in Appendix I of the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species(CITES), in Appendix II of the Conventionon Migratory Species (CMS) and categorisedas Endangered on the International Unionfor the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN)Red List.11

Chapter 2A SCIENTIFIC ACCOUNT OF THESPECIESTaxonomyThough the names of William Roxburgh andHeinrich Julius Lebeck are associated withthe first description of the Gangetic dolphinin 1801, priority for the description goes toDr. Roxburgh who named it Delphinusgangetica (Pilleri 1978). In 1828 Rene Lessonadopted a genus based on the Bengali name‘Susuk’ and described the species as Susuplatanista. However, Johann Wagler adaptedPlatanista as a genus in 1830 and from thenonwards it is known as Platanista gangetica.The Indus and Ganges populations werelong regarded as identical. However, Pilleriand Gihr (1971) divided them into twospecies based on differences in skullstructure, but Kasuya (1972) reduced the twotaxa to subspecies of a single species. This issupported by the results of Yang and Zhou(1999), who found that there was littledifference between the cytochrome-bsequences of the Ganges and Indus riverdolphins. There was probably sporadicexchange between the Indus and GangesRiver dolphin populations by head-streamcapture on the low Indo-Gangetic plainsbetween the Sutlej (Indus) and Yamuna(Ganges) rivers (Rice, 1998). Thus onespecies is recognised in the genus Platanista ;the Ganges River dolphins are currentlyPlatanista gangetica gangetica and the IndusRiver dolphins are Platanista gangetica minor.Physical descriptionThe Ganges River dolphins have a long,pointed snout that is characteristic of all riverdolphins. Both the upper and lower jaw setsof long sharp teeth are visible even when themouth is closed. While the snout is long andwidens at the tip, the female’s snout isgenerally longer than that of the male andmay curve upwards and to one side. The eyesare extremely small openings slightly abovethe mouth. The species does not havecrystalline eye lens rendering it effectivelyblind, although it may still be able to detectthe intensity and direction of light.Navigation and hunting are carried out usingecho-location. The body is a deep browncolour, stocky in the middle and attenuatingto a narrow tail stalk behind the dorsal fin.The dorsal fin is a very low triangular humplocated two-thirds of the body length fromthe anterior end. The broad flippers have acrenellated margin, with visible hand andarm bones. The flippers and flukes are thinand large in relation to the body size.Body size is about 2m - 2.2m in males and2.4m - 2.6m in females. At the time of birththey measure 70cm - 90 cm and weighbetween 4 kg to 7.5 kg. While adults usuallyweigh between 70 kg and 90 kg, an adultpregnant female (2.5 m) caught at Araria innorth-eastern Bihar in February 1993weighed 114 kg. Similarly an adult female(2.4 m) killed in the Ganga at Patna on the29 th of April 2010 weighed 97 kg.Primitive charactersPlatanista gangetica gangetica bears some veryprimitive characters not known in othercetaceans, such as the presence of a caecum atthe junction of the small and large intestines.The position of the testis is more dorsal thanthat in other marine cetaceans andsubcutaneous muscle is present between twolayers of blubber (Sinha et. al. 2010).BehaviourGanges River dolphins swim and vocaliseconstantly. Due to the turbid nature of theGanges, the underwater activities of Gangesdolphins in the wild are difficult to observe.Their short surfacing time is also a majorconstraint for behavioural studies. A recentstudy recorded six types of surfacing patterns,which were dependent on age-class and offshoredistance of the individual (Sinha et al.2010a).12

Ganges River dolphins exhibit greaterpreference for the surface than other riverdolphins; even when swimming, which theydo on their sides, they occasionally keep theirbeaks out of water. Newborn calvesfrequently leap completely out of the water.Group behaviourThe Ganges River dolphin is not usuallyconsidered to be gregarious. In one of thefew quantitative studies of group size, it wasobserved that 90% of the groups and 80.4%of the total dolphins observed during the dryseason in the Meghna and Jamuna Rivers ofBangladesh were solitary individuals. Whilethe calves accompany mothers, adults arenormally found alone or in small groups.However, other investigators reported groupsof as many as 25 to 30 dolphins at theconfluence of the Ganga and Gandak atPatna.Reproduction and Life HistoryThough the breeding season of the Gangeticdolphin extends from January to June, newlyborn calves can be seen even in other months.While mating usually takes place betweenMarch and June, it has been observed even inJuly. Only a single baby is born after agestation period of about 9 months. At thetime of birth the neonate is about 70 cm andweighs about 4 kg - 5 kg. The mother andcalf remain together for about one year. Themale attains sexual maturity at an age ofabout 10 years when they reach a length of1.7 meters while the females are known toattain sexual maturity at 10 or less years(Kasuya 1972) when they are around 2m long(Harison 1972). During the surveys,newborn calves were sighted throughout thedistribution range by various surveys, whichindicates that the river habitat is conducivefor dolphin breeding in spite of various bioticpressures.invertebrates (Sinha et al., 1993), andpossibly turtles and birds. A list of preyspecies documented for the Ganges dolphinsis presented in Table 2. They exhibit activeforaging behaviour in the morning (0700hrs- 1000 hrs) and after noon (1500 hrs -1700 hrs). The dolphins have been observedchasing and preying upon surface dwellingfish species, such as Rhinomugil corsula. Onsome occasions it was noticed that they drivefishes to a particular area for communityfeeding.Migration and DispersalThe marked seasonal changes in the dolphindistribution and density over much of itsrange are due, at least in large part, tofluctuations in water levels. During the dryseason from October to April, many dolphinsleave the tributaries of the Ganga andBrahmaputra systems and congregate in themain channels, only to return to thetributaries the following monsoon. Dolphinswere seen 100kms upstream in the River Sonin the flood season in the early 1990s,returning to the main stem of the Gangaafter the floods abated in October. They maybecome isolated in pools and river branchesduring the dry season (Reeves and Brownell,1989). One dolphin, which had entered adeep pool in River Damodar from theHooghly river, was rescued in January 2001after it stayed behind even after the end ofthe flood season.The Ganges River dolphins even disperse inthe main channel of the Ganga in search ofprey. Observations in Nepal show that theymove in and out of tributaries of theGandaki, Koshi, and Karnali systems duringhigh water seasons, probably spending lowwaterseasons in deep pools of the tributaries.In the main rivers, a decrease in abundanceduring the summer would confirm a seasonalpattern of migration (Shreshtha, 1989).Food and feedingGanges River dolphins are catholic feedersand feed on several species of fishes,13

Relatively high densities of dolphins arefound at sites where rivers join or justdownstream of shallow stretches, in areaswhere the current is relatively weak, off themouths of irrigation canals, and near villagesand ferry routes. In the Indus, about 40%-45% of the dolphin population is found atjunctions of tributaries with the main riverstem, at least during the dry season,presumably being attracted to these areas byconcentrations of prey (Reeves and Brownell,1989).The population above the Kaptai dam in theKarnaphuli River in Bangladesh disappearedover a period of 6 or 7 years after theconstruction of the dam. Similarly, dolphinpopulation disappeared from the main stem ofthe Ganges, above the Middle Ganga Barrage atBijnor (about 100kms downstream Haridwar)after 12 years of its construction. Dolphins inNepal are almost extinct in Mahakali, Narayaniand Sapta Kosi due to construction of barragesat their heads at India-Nepal border.14

Chapter 3THREATS TO THE GANGETICDOLPHINHUMAN – DOLPHIN CONFLICTPoachingIn its entire distribution range, and especiallyin Bihar, the species is facing threats to itsexistence from poaching. Deliberate killingof 'susus', especially harpooning, is believedto have declined in most areas but someindividuals are still taken each year. Their oiland meat is used as liniment, as anaphrodisiac and as bait for catfish. A fewcases of poaching are recorded in the middleGanges in Bihar (Sinha et al., 2000), in theKalni-Kushiyara River of Bangladesh, and inthe upper reaches of the Brahmaputra Riverin Assam, India (Mohan et al. 1997). Withvery low population of the species in rivers,even a few catches will have devastatingeffects on long-term survival of this endemicspecies. Appendix A details some anecdotesof dolphin killings.Accidental killingEntanglement of Ganges River dolphins infishing nets causes significant damage to thelocal population. Accidental killing is a severeproblem for Ganges River dolphinsthroughout most of their range. The primarycause is believed to be entanglement infishing gear such as nylon gillnets becausetheir preferred habitat is often in the samelocation as primary fishing grounds. Theproblem of accidental killing is expected toworsen with increasing fishing intensity.Accidental killing due to collisions withvessels has also been observed.Dolphin - fisherman competitionRiverine areas of high productivity sustain arich and diversified fish community, whichattracts dolphins as well as fishermen.Dolphins face intense competition with thefishermen, and are brought into closeproximity with them, in these regions.Accidental killing in fishing nets, as well asdirect killing by the fishermen to reducecompetition, affects dolphin populations.Use of dolphin productsThe fishermen and other riparian people inmany areas have traditionally been usingdolphin oil for burning and as a liniment(Anderson 1879). Some people regularly eatthe meat and in Bangladesh pregnant womenconsume the dolphin oil (Smith et al. 1998).Currently the dolphin oil is used as fish baitin Bihar and Assam for catching twoeconomically important fish, Eutropiichthysvacha and Clupisoma garua (Sinha 2002).Demand for these products creates anincentive for poaching and a disincentive todolphin conservation. Appendix B details theuse of dolphin oil as bait.HABITAT DEGRADATIONConstruction of dams and barragesDevelopment of hydroelectric power andirrigation in the Ganges River system hasprevented dolphin migration and has led tothe segregation of populations. Thisfragmentation of the metapopulation hasreduced the dolphin gene pool, leading to aloss of genetic diversity.These developments have also altered theoverflow and flooding cycles of the Gangariver system, which influences themovements and spawning of flood-plaindependent fishes.In addition to fragmenting dolphinpopulations, dams and barrages degradedownstream habitat and create reservoirswith high sedimentation and alteredassemblages of fish and invertebrates (IWC,2000).Luxuriant growth of macrophytes andexcessive siltation have eliminated suitablehabitat immediately above Farakka Barrage(Sinha, 2000).15

IrrigationExcess extraction of the river water forirrigation has lowered water levelsthroughout the species range and hasthreatened suitable habitat in the Ganges.The long-term implications of the reductionof dry-season flow in the Ganges arecatastrophic for the survival of 'susus'.The total measured flow of suspended sedimentin the tributaries to the Ganga River is 488 x10 6 t/yr, while the quantity of sediment movingin the Ganga at Farakka is 729x10 6 t/yr ofwhich 328x10 6 t/yr is transported down theHooghly River (Wasson, 2003).The River Kosi, one of the major tributaries ofthe Ganga, carries maximum silt load in theGanga system with average annual suspendedload to the tune of 2774 tonnes/km 2 which isthe second highest for any river of the world.The Huang River carries the highest load of2804 tonnes/km 2 (IUCN 1980).Riverine resource extractionDredging and development of the riverenvironment has altered its nature andeliminated counter currents, one of the mostpreferred habitats of the dolphin.Increasingly heavy river traffic in the Gangesand Brahmaputra may result in habitatrestriction, noise pollution, depletion of preybase and changes in feeding behavior of the'susus' in the rivers. Other sources of habitatdegradation include the removal of stones,sand (Mohan et al. 1997) and woody debris(Smith, 1993). These activities threaten theecological integrity of the riverineenvironment, especially in small tributarieswhere suitable habitat is more confined andtherefore more vulnerable to local sources ofdegradation.SedimentationDue to loss of vegetation cover in thecatchment area and in floodplains, theincreasing rates of sedimentation cause a riseof the river bed, reducing the river's waterretaining capacity. Sedimentation has a directimpact on the physical and biologicalcharacteristics of the river basin. It affects theother river biota, including fish, reducing theprey base of the dolphin. High altitudegrazing, forest management, limitedcultivation, and road building in themountain ranges from where these riversoriginate are the prime factors influencingsedimentation (Wasson, 2003). The RiverGanges receives sediments from Himalayasas well as the peninsular regionPollutionThe concentrations of fertilizer and pesticideresidues, and industrial and domesticeffluents are very high in the Ganges River.The effects of such pollutants may bedeleterious to dolphin populations, andpollutant loads are expected to increase withindustrialisation and the spread of intensivemodern agricultural practices (Smith andReeves 2000a).About 1.5 million metric tons of chemicalfertilizers and about 21,000 tons of technicalgrade pesticides are dumped annually to theGanges-Brahamaputra river system in Indiain 2002-2003. Concentrations ofpolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), chlordanecompounds, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB)in the Ganges River dolphin blubber, muscle,kidney, liver and prey collected from stomachof the dolphins collected during 1993through 1996 from the River Ganges in andaround Patna, India were determined bySenthilkumar et al., (1999). The studycompared the organochlorine concentrationswith values reported for samples analysedduring 1988 through 1992 and suggestedthat the contamination by these compoundshas increased in the river. Kannan et al.,(1997) determined concentrations of butyl-16

tin compounds in dolphins, fish,invertebrates and sediments collected fromthe Ganges in and around Patna. Total levelin dolphin tissues was up to 2000 ng g -1 wetweight, which was about 5-10 times higherthan in their diet. The bio-magnificationfactor for butyl tins in river dolphin from itsfood was in the range of 0.2-7.5. Butyl-tinconcentrations in Ganges River organismswere higher than those reported for severalpersistent organochlorine compounds. Arecently discovered micro-pollutant,perfluorinated compounds, was assessed intissues of the dolphin carcasses collectedfrom the Ganges in and around Patna(Yeung et al., 2009). Organo-chlorine andorgano-tin concentrations in the tissues ofGanges River dolphins are high enough tocause concern about their effects(Kannan et al., 1993, 1994, 1997)the final fate of these animals can bemonitored. Rarely can any such individualssuccessfully return to the main channel of theriver; most of them get stranded and aresubsequently killed, either by the locals orbecause of the water-regulating gates in thesecanals.The depletion of prey baseThe sustained and heavy exploitation ofsmall fishes of rivers by the wide spread useof the mosquito nets in river may affect theprey base of the Ganges River dolphin.While the rate of renewal of this resource isremarkable, there is no data on preyabundance estimates and further research isrequired to quantify this threat.Possible impacts of river trafficThere have been numerous proposals toutilise sections of the Ganga for inland watertransport. Currently, cargo steamers carrygoods from Haldia to Patna regularly,occasionally travelling up to Varanasi. Thereis heavy river traffic in and around Kolkataand river tourism has recently been startedbetween Kolkata and Varanasi.Collisions with these vessels, and the effectsof the noise they generate, are a seriousproblem for dolphins. Since this speciesdepends upon echolocation for many of itsactivities, including foraging, sonic pollutionmay adversely impact their well-being. TheGanges dolphins were seen to be avoidingthe river stretch with heavy traffic in theRiver Hooghly in and around Kolkata,preferring relatively undisturbed areas wherea lower number of mechanised vessels ply(Sinha 1997).Mortalities in irrigation canalsSmall numbers of dolphins occasionally enterthe large irrigation canals in Uttar Pradesh.While reports of such occurrences arereceived regularly, it is only in rare cases that17

Chapter 4STRATEGY FOR THE CONSERVATIONOF GANGES RIVER DOLPHINSSuccessful strategies to facilitate the recoveryof depleted populations, reverse trends ofpopulation decline and habitat deterioration,and ensure that robust populations withhigh-quality habitat are secure will need tobe multifaceted, adaptable, and tailored toparticular local or regional conditions (Reeveset al., 2003). The many elements outlinedbelow are integral to a comprehensiveconservation strategy for the Ganges Riverdolphin.The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary(VGDS) stretches for about 50 km of the Gangabetween Sultanganj and Kahalgaon in Bihar, andis the only protected area designated for GangesRiver dolphin. A Management Plan for theVGDS was prepared in 2001 by the StateGovernment, but could not be implemented dueto lack of dedicated manpower and financialsupport. Three members of the Bihar StateWildlife Board visited VGDS in the first week ofApril 2010 to assess the current status of thesanctuary management plan. Activities harmfulto dolphins, such as oil fishing, and use of fishingnets dangerous to the dolphins, were found to beconducted within the VGDS. In the absence ofvigorous education, monitoring and enforcement,dolphins are at risk in VGDS.Ensuring that any catch or other uses of theGanges dolphin are sustainableThe following factors make the deliberateexploitation of Ganges dolphin a high-riskendeavor from a conservation viewpoint:(a) They have intrinsically low rates ofpopulation increase;(b) Most populations are subjected to bycatchin fisheries;(c) There is uncertainty associated withestimates of their life history parameters,absolute abundance, trends in abundance,and total mortality;(d) The effects of chemical and noisepollution, reduced prey abundance, andhabitat degradation are potentially seriousbut difficult to quantify.Concern about unsustainable exploitationapplies particularly to small cetaceans(Perrin, 1999). Ganges River dolphins areespecially vulnerable because of their inlandfreshwater distribution. A complicatingfactor is that their small size makes thecarcasses easy to handle, transport, processand conceal from management authorities.Measures to regulate directed takes are noteasy to devise and implement, but withoutthem, the species population is at risk.Among the elements needed for an effectivemanagement scheme are abundanceestimation and reliable demographicknowledge of how many animals are beingremovedDeveloping and encouraging alternativefishing techniquesDolphin oil is used as bait to attract twotarget fish species (Clupisoma garua andEutropiichthys vacha), which are then nettedor hooked. This use of dolphin oil and theirbody parts creates an incentive for huntingdolphins and a disincentive for fishermen torelease any that may become entangled intheir nets.Oil extracted from fish offal available atoutdoor markets has been tested and foundto be an effective substitute for dolphin oil(Sinha, 2002), and encouraging its use mayresult in a reduction of dolphin kills.Reducing incidental mortality throughrescue and release effortsA program was initiated in Pakistan in 2000to rescue Indus river dolphins that arestranded in irrigation canals or isolated deeppools where they are unlikely to survive(Braulik, 2000). A similar program in Indianriver systems for the Ganges River dolphinwill contribute to its conservation.18

Managing future dolphin-oriented tourismThough no dolphin-oriented tourism existson the Ganga yet, recently introduced rivertourism between Kolkata and Varanasiattracted foreign tourists to watch dolphinsin the Ganga.While dolphin watching is a potentialsustainable income source for fishermen andlocals, it is important to ensure that dolphinwatching on the Ganga is conducted in amanner that is respectful to the animals, localpeople and fellow tourists. Guidelines andcodes of conduct should be developed,adopted and promoted by both the tourismindustry as well as by government agencies toensure that unregulated dolphin watchtourism does not become a menace for theGanges River dolphin.Habitat protection and restorationProtected areasExisting protected areas in the Ganga and itstributaries fall far short of what is needed.Few protected areas capable of providingcomprehensive protection to the species theysupport.A major challenge in extending the coverageand level of protection conferred throughprotected areas is to convince stakeholdersthat conservation measures can benefit themand thus deserve their support.While a buffer zone aids in protection,animals that are relatively safe fromentanglement in fishing gear while inside areserve with strong enforcement may meet agauntlet of nets as they move beyond itsborders.Researching and reducing environmentalpollutionWhile more research is needed to elucidatethe impacts of contaminant exposure ondolphin health, the precautionary principledemands that restrictions on the discharge ofuntreated effluents into the Ganga riversystem should be enforced to ensure areduction in dolphin exposure to toxins.Reducing the effects of water developmenton rivers in Ganga basinThe Ganges River dolphins need to beconsidered in the assessment of impacts ofwater development projects. The preferredoption from a conservation perspective is torefrain from interfering with the natural flowregime and to avoid constructing barriers toanimals and sediment movement. However,socio-political conditions make it impracticalto completely halt water developmentalactivities especially in the Ganga basin, so theimmediate goal must be to manage suchactivities in ways that will minimise the harmto dolphins and other aquatic species.The following principles, elucidated at a1997 IUCN workshop at Rajendrapur,Bangladesh, on water development andfreshwater cetaceans, may be adapted to thiscontext:• Ganges dolphins require sufficient yearroundwater flow to move, forage, andcarry out activities that ensurereproductive success and recruitment intobreeding population.• Large daily fluctuations in flow should beavoided.• Equilibrium between sediment erosionand deposition is necessary to maintainessential habitat features, which can oftenbe accomplished by managing flowreleases according to environmentcriteria.• Access to floodplains should be preservedto ensure natural spawning and rearinghabitat for fishes which are prey base ofthe dolphin.• Information on the pre-developmentecological conditions of a river is essentialfor evaluating mitigation efforts (likeprovision of fish ways etc.) and toimplement future development decisions.• Post-development empirical studies areneeded to monitor the operational aspectsof projects as well as the effects on19

upstream and downstream populations ofcetaceans and their habitat.• Cumulative and synergistic impacts ofmultiple developments should beconsidered in assessments ofenvironmental impact.Enhancing the capacity and governanceframework for Ganges dolphinconservationCapacity-building refers to enhancement ofhuman capabilities through a combination ofeducation and infrastructure improvement. Itis vital that local scientists and activists beable to provide the impetus and expertise fordolphin conservation efforts in their ownregions.20

Chapter 5RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THECONSERVATION OF THE GANGESRIVER DOLPHINThe Ganges River dolphins have narrowecological requirements and a fragmentedpopulation structure. Conserving this speciesrequires coordinated efforts among agencies,organisations, and communities within thespecies range. Conservation issues can best beaddressed by adopting population or regionallevel approaches for sustainable comanagement.The intention is to tailorconservation strategies to the specificcharacter of highly threatened ecologicalenvironments. It is important to implementthe strategies under the leadership of localscientists, managers and community groupsor stakeholders. Conservation efforts willultimately succeed only if embraced by thepeople living in and near the animals’habitats.In the Ganga basin, the river dolphins havedeclined in abundance and in the extent oftheir range. This species is competing withhumans for shrinking water resources. Largescaleengineering projects that give peoplehope for economic development and relieffrom flood and famine pose dire threats tothis animal and other aquatic wildlife.Anderson (1879) published a distributionmap of the Ganges dolphin (Map I). Whilemuch of the historical distribution range hasbeen surveyed in the last few decades, surveysof many areas are yet to be conducted. Thestretches in the rivers that contain healthybreeding dolphin populations with long-termsurvival potential designated as ‘criticalstretches’ need to be identified. The actionPlan of the IUCN/SSC Cetacean SpecialistGroup calls attention to the need for rangewidepopulation assessments in support ofconservation efforts for obligate or true riverdolphins including the Ganges Riverdolphins (Reeves and Leatherwood, 1994).Identified Critical StretchesSome areas of the Ganga river system whichneed urgent protection measures wereidentified during a workshop on the‘Conservation of Ganges River Dolphin’organised at Patna on 22-23 February, 2010based on inputs from the participants, whichincluded most Indian dolphin researchers aswell as the Chair of the IUCN CetaceanSpecialist Group Dr Randall Reeves.Critical Stretches for Ganges River dolphinsUttar PradeshMiddle Ganga Barrage at Bijnore to LowerGanga Barrage at Narora (165 km)Fatatehpur to Mirzapur (150 km).Chambal-Yamuna confluence near Etawah toGanga-Yamuna confluence at AllahabadBiharGangi-Ganga Confluence near Sinha Ghat, Ara20km upstream Ghaghara-Ganga confluence atDoriganj, Chhapra) to Fatuha (confluence ofGanga and Punpun (80 km).Barh to Mokama to Maniharighat (Katihar)(210 km). This stretch includes the VikramshilaGanges Dolphin Sanctuary (60 km).River Gandak from Triveni Barrage at Indo-Nepal border to Ganga – Gandak confluence atPatna (320 km)Identification of gap areas in dolphindistribution rangeParticipants in the workshop defined ‘gapareas’ as(a) areas within the known historical range ofthe Ganges River dolphin that have notbeen surveyed systematically andscientifically or(b) areas within the known historical rangewhere there is evidence indicating thatthe dolphins are no longer present (i.e.gaps or discontinuities in dolphindistribution). These areas are detailed inAppendix C.21

Map: Historical range of the Ganges River Dolphin (Anderson, 1879)Category (a) areas identified and prioritisedby the Working Group set up by theMinistry of Environment and Forests mustbe surveyed at least once a year to monitorthe population.Immediate support should be provided by theCentral government to researchers,organisations and NGOs identified by theWorking Group to carry out surveys andresearches following appropriate surveymethods in the critical stretches.Identification of areas of research for longtermconservation of the Dolphin in theRiver Ganga and its tributaries.•Evaluate the viability of the Ganges Riverdolphin populations for long-term survival,and prepare management plans for eachpopulation.•Develop and utilise the most appropriatemethodology for the population estimationof dolphins.•Develop methods for safe handling ofGanges River dolphins for scientific andrescue efforts.•Assessment of the habitat of the GangesRiver dolphin•Study the movement and dispersal patternof the Ganges River dolphin to assess thehome range and habitat utilising moderntechnologies such as satellite tracking.•Develop and utilise health markers in theGanges River dolphin to rapidly assess thehealth of an individual.•Study bio-accumulation of toxins, and theireffects, in the Ganges River dolphins.22

•Evaluation of the genetic diversity of thespecies and development of in vitro systemsfor possible future captive breeding efforts..To increase National Awareness about theGanges River dolphin and the importanceof freshwater ecosystems•Identification of target groups to executeconservation actions•Designation of Brand Ambassadors forawareness campaigns.•Development of education and publicitymaterial.•Development of a dedicated web portal forthe Ganges River dolphinIdentification of potential dolphinsanctuaries in the Ganga river systemPotential sites for intense dolphinconservation should be demarcated in theGanga River System.Provision of institutional support for thelong-term survival of the Ganges Riverdolphininjures dolphins. Use of fishing nets made upof mosquito netting material (Hindi - ‘Kapdajal’) should also be banned as it collects smallfish which serve as food for dolphins, andfetch very little or no income to fishermen.Since the Ganges River dolphin is a ScheduleI animal under Wildlife (Protection) Act1972, use of its body parts, such as tissue andoil, is illegal. Wildlife officials shouldconduct frequent raids to enforce this lawand culprits must be punished under theWildlife (Protection) Act 1972, amended tilldate.The 5 th of October should be celebrated as“National Indian River Dolphin Day” as onthis day the animal was declared as theNational Aquatic Animal of India by thePrime Minister of India. This date is alsosuitable as the week from the 2 nd October to8 th October is celebrated as the Indian‘Wildlife Week’.Universities and research organisationsshould be encouraged to develop dolphinresearch programsThe establishment of Dolphin ConservationCenters and strengthening of researchfacilities available in India will aid in bettercoordination among agencies responsible forthe conservation of the Ganga River dolphin.Each state with Ganges River dolphinpopulations should have a regional DolphinConservation Center, with a nodal agencyresponsible for its operation. It is proposedthat WWF-India in Uttar Pradesh, MorenaCenter of National Chambal Sanctuary forMadhya Pradesh, Patna University/CentralUniversity of Bihar for Bihar and ZoologicalSurvey of India, Kolkata for West Bengalshould be designated as the state-specificnodal agencies.The use of nylon monofilament fishinggillnets in stretch of rivers having dolphinpopulation should be banned, as this net23

Chapter 6ACTIONS FOR CONSERVATION OFTHE GANGES RIVER DOLPHINAction 1. Initiating state-wise GangesDolphin Population Status Surveys andThreat AssessmentStatus surveys need to be conductedsimultaneously in identified critical and gapareas at least twice a year depending uponlocal conditions for a minimum period ofthree consecutive years. This will help in thepreparation of state-wise national GangesRiver dolphin population status reports.The Chief Wildlife Wardens of each stateshould consult experts to conduct surveysusing standardised survey methods, detailedin Appendix D. Local scientists shouldconduct the initial surveys, aided by expertsand wildlife officials. This will help in thepreparation of a Ganges River DolphinStatus ReportAction: State Chief Wildlife Wardens;Timeframe: ImmediateEstimated Budget: Fifty crore rupeesAction 2. Setting up of Protected Areas forthe Ganges River dolphinBased on the results of the status survey andidentification of river stretches that supportbreeding populations of the Ganges Riverdolphin, states need to be encouraged topropose manageable Protected/ConservationAreas under the provisions of the Wildlife(Protection) Act (1972) taking localstakeholders into confidence. The ChiefWildlife Wardens of states in the GangesRiver dolphin distribution range may seekthe aid of professional institutions andorganisations for the development of suchproposals.The establishment of Trans-boundaryProtected Areas for Ganges River dolphinsmay also be considered between India, Nepaland Bangladesh.Action: Chief Wildlife Warden and MoEFTimeframe: ImmediateEstimated Budget: Five crore rupeesAction 3. Capacity Building for GangesRiver Dolphin Conservation andManagementEven though the endangered river dolphinsare found in the Ganges and Brahmaputrabasin, there have been few comprehensiveresearch programs and status surveys thatcover the entire distribution range.Universities and other institutions in Indianeed to be supported to develop programmesto study Dolphins and their habitatconditions. In addition to establishingdedicated Centres in Ganges Basin forDolphin research, identified institutions mayneed to be supported for conducting trainingprogramme for frontline protection staff aswell as university researchers and teachingstaff on research methodologies. Some ofthe identified organisations who could takeup such capacity building programmes invarious regions are WWF-India, WildlifeInstitute of India, and PatnaUniversity/Central University of Bihar. TheMoEF may also need to initiate a NationalDolphin Conservation Project on the lines ofProject Tiger and Project Elephant to ensurecontinuous funding support for capacitybuilding and other conservation efforts.System has to be developed for guiding andadopting the research scholars by the peersfor encouragement of the guided researchand development activities on Ganges Riverdolphin.Action: MoEFTimeframe: ImmediateEstimated Budget: Ten crore rupeesAction 4. Minimising Fisheries Interfaceand Incidental Capture of River DolphinsThere is a serious need to review the existingfisheries practices, legislations and Acts. Also24

there is a need for the development of asustainable fishery management plancompatible with river dolphin existence. TheCentral Inland Fisheries Research Institute,Barrackpore or the Tata Institute of SocialSciences, Mumbai could take up this as anational review with help of each of theconcerned state level fishery department.Action: MoEF.Time: ImmediateEstimated Budget: Five crore rupeesAction 5. Prevention, Mitigation andRestoration of Impacts on DolphinHabitats from Developmental ProjectsIntensive development projects proposed inthe river basins that have direct impacts onthe dolphins and their habitat need to beidentified. Environmental ImpactsAssessments (EIAs) of such projects need tofocus and indicate the possible impact of theproposed activities on dolphins.A model Dolphin Habitat RestorationProject in stretches of habitat that areconsidered to have been degraded to asuboptimal level may be initiated.Action: MoEFTimeframe: ImmediateEstimated Budget: Five crore rupeesAction 6. Community Involvement inriver dolphin Conservation andManagementThe involvement or active participation oflocal stakeholders like traditional fishingcommunity and other riverbank communitiesis essential for dolphin conservation. Therehave been some initiatives in this directionsuch as ‘Dolphin Mitra’ in Bihar and‘Community based Dolphin WatchProgramme’ in Chilika Lake. Communitiesinvolved in such activities with benefitsharing options such as ‘River Cruise’ or‘Dolphin Watch Programme’ have helpedpopularise Dolphin Conservation &Management Activities.Similar ‘Dolphin Watch’ programmes in theGanges river basin may be developed withappropriate guidelines and environmentalsafeguards. Organisations such as PatnaUniversity, Central University of Bihar,Bhagalpur University, WWF-India andWildlife Institute of India may be entrustedto develop and implement such modelprogrammes through the development ofappropriate mechanisms includinginvolvement of National and State TourismOrganisations.Action: MoEF, Central and State TourismDepartments.Timeframe: Two YearsEstimated Budget: Five crore rupeesAction 7. Ensuring Critical Levels ofWater Flow in Riverine Habitats ofDolphinsThe survival of the Ganges River dolphinand a host of other aquatic wildlife isdependent on riverine ecology in general andthe maintenance of an optimum water flow.Based on systematic and continued researchand regular monitoring with the involvementof hydrologists and other multi-disciplinaryprofessionals, critical water flow andminimum depths for all river dolphinhabitats should be determined, andmanagement actions should be set in place toensure such flow and depth.Action: MoEF.Time frame: Three yearsEstimated Budget: Five crore rupeesAction 8. Education & AwarenessWith the declaration of the Ganges Riverdolphin as the National Aquatic Animal,there is a need to educate and increase theawareness level of all spectrums of the societyabout the species, its habitat requirementsand its current threatened status.Special attention should be given by RiverDolphin states to set up InterpretationCenters along the Ganges.25

The Communication materials such as films,poster, etc and media campaigns should alsobe given higher priority. There is also theneed of development of a dedicated portalfor the Ganges River Dolphin.Action: MoEFTime frame: Five yearsEstimated Budget: Five crore rupeesAction 9. Rescue & Rehabilitation ofGanges River DolphinSince the Ganges River dolphin is anendangered species, every single animal is animportant source for the gene pool.Rescue and rehabilitation of dolphins is aspecialised operation and there is a need toestablish Rescue and Rehabilitation Centresand specialised teams in the Ganges basin atappropriate locations.Action: MoEF and State ForestDepartmentTime frame: Five yearsEstimated Budget: Five crore rupeesAction 10. Allocation and Initiation ofIdentified ResearchBased on the recommendations of theGanges River Dolphin ConservationWorking Group Workshop at Patna, focalthemes of research have been identified andrecommended for support by NationalGanga River Basin Authority and otherfunding agencies. This action may includeorganisation of national, regional, state levelsymposium, workshops and seminars forstock taking of success of conservationmanagement efforts in the field. Some of theidentified thrust areas of research are asfollow:•Development and/or adoption of themost appropriate and robustmethodology for the populationestimation of dolphins.•Development of methods for safehandling, sampling and rescue of GangesRiver dolphins.•Preference assessment andcharacterisation of habitat preference ofthe Ganges dolphin•Studies on the movement and dispersalpattern of the Ganges River dolphin toassess the home range and habitat useutilising modern technologies such assatellite tracking.•Development and adoption of healthmarkers in this species to assess healthstatus.•Continue pollution studies andestimation of toxic chemicals in dolphintissues using carcasses as and whenavailable.•Conduct basic research on naturalbreeding, feeding, prey, social behaviour,anatomy, etc of the Ganges river dolphin.•Evaluation of the genetic diversity of thespecies and development of in vitrosystems such as cell lines to study effectsof pollutants on the health and survival ofdolphin as well as for the long termconservation.Action: MoEFTime frame: Five yearsEstimated Budget: Twenty crore rupeesAll these activities can beinitiated/carried out by activeresearchers/scientistsandconservationinsts with experience in therelated fields. Scientists of theorganizations identified in the abovenoted Actions should take lead andimplement it.•Estimation of dolphin populations andevaluation of the threats being faced bythem to evaluate the viability of longtermsurvival of the population, andpreparation of a management plan.26

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northern coastal waters of Myanmar. Asian Marine Biology, 14,173-194.Smith BD, Aminul Haque AKM, Hossain MS, & Khan A.1998. River dolphins in Bangladesh: Conservation and theeffects of water developments. Environmental Management, 22,323-335.Yeung, L.W.Y., Yamashita, N., Taniyasu, S., Lam, K.S.,Sinha, R. K., Borole, D.V. & Kannan, K. (2009). A survey ofperfluorinated compounds in surface water and biota includingdolphins from the Ganges River and in other water bodies inIndia. Chemosphere Vol. 76 (1): 55-62.Smith BD, Sinha RK, Zhou K, Chaudhry AA, Renjun L,Wang D, Ahmed B, Aminul Haque AKM, Sapkota K, &Mohan RSL.2000. Register of water development projectsaffecting Asian river cetaceans. In R. R. Reeves, B. D. Smith,T. Kasuya (Eds.), Biology and conservation of freshwater cetaceansin Asia. Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species SurvivalCommission (No. 23 pp. 22-39). Gland, Switzerland andCambridge, United Kingdom: IUCN,Smith, B. D., Braulik, G., Strindberg,S., Ahmed, B., andMansur, R. 2006. Abundance of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaellabrevirostris) and Ganges River dolphins (Platanista gangeticagangetica) estimated using concurrent counts made byindependent teams in waterways of the Sundarbans mangroveforest in Bangladesh. Marine Mammal Science, Vol. 22, Issue 3,527-547.Turvey, S. T., Pitman, R.L., Taylor, B.L., Barlow, J.Akamatsu, T., Barrett, L.A., Xiujiang, Z., Reeves, R.R.,Stewart, B.S., Wang, K., Zhou, W., Zhang, X., Pusser, L.T.,Richlen, M., Brandon, J. & Ding, W. 2007. First humancaused extinction of a cetacean species ? Biology Letters, 3, 537-540.Wakid, A. 2009. Status and distribution of the endangeredGangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) in theBrahmaputra River within India in 2005. Current Science, vol.97, No. 8: 1143-1151.Wasson, R. J. 2003. A sediment budget for the Ganga-Brahmaputra Catchment. Current Science, Vol 84, No. 8, 1041-1047.WWF-Nepal. 2006. Conservation and Management of riverdolphins in Asia. Proceedings of the regional meeting onconservation and management of River Dolphins. 26-27 May,Kathmandu, Nepal.WWF-Pakistan 2010. Conservation of Indus River Dolphin-Disaster Management Plan, July 2010. page1-34.Yang, G. & Zhou, K. 1999. A study on the molecularphylogeny of river dolphins. Acta Theriologica Sinica, 19, 1-9.29

TABLE 1:POPULATION STATUS OF THE GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN IN THE GANGA RIVER SYSTEMNAME OF THE RIVERLENGTH OFRIVERSURVEYEDDOLPHINCOUNTSOURCEIndiaTHE MAIN GANGA CHANNELThe Ganga (Haridwar to Bijnor Barrage) 100 km Nil Sinha et al.(2000)The Ganga (Bijnor Barrage to NaroraBarrage169 km36 (d/ssurvey)56Sinha et al. (2000)(pers. comm. S. Behera2010)The Ganga (Narora to Allahabad)Kanpur to Allahabad600 km200 km10 (discretesegmentsurvey)78Sinha et al. (2000)(pers. comm. S. Behera2010)The Ganga (Allahabad to Buxar)425 km172 (d/ssurvey)Sinha et al.(2000)The Ganga (Buxar to Maniharighat)500 km808 (u/ssurvey)(Sinha et al. 2010)The Ganga (Maniharighat to Farakka)100 km24 (d/ssurvey)pers. comm. R. K. SinhaThe Farakka Feeder canal38 km21 (d/ssurvey)Sinha et al. (2000)The Bhagirathi (Jangipur Barrage toTriveni)320 km119 (d/ssurvey)Sinha et al.(2000)The Hooghli (Triveni to Ganga Sagar)190 km97 (d/ssurvey)(pers. comm. G. Sharma2008)30

TRIBUTARIES OF THE GANGAThe River Yamuna (from confluence ofChambal to Allahabad)250 km 104 WWF Nepal (2006)The River Ghaghara (Kailashpuri Barrageto Deorighat, U.P.)505 km 295 WWF Nepal (2006)The Kosi (Kosi Barrage to Kursela)200 km85 (discretesurvey)Sinha and Sharma (2003a)The Gandak (Gandak Barrage to confluencewith Ganga at Patna)320 km290 (d/ssurvey)Multi-organisational survey2010The River Girwa (India-Nepal border toGirijapuri Barrage)20 km23 (d/ssurvey)28Smith et al.(1994)WWF Nepal (2006)The Sarda (Sarda Barrage to Palya) 100 km Nil Sinha and Sharma (2003)The Chambal (Keshoraipatan to Pachnada)567 km 93 WWF Nepal (2006)The Ken(from confluence of Yamuna atChilla to Sindhan Kala village)30 km08 (d/ssurvey)Sinha et al. (2000)The Kumari (from confluence of SindRiver)100 km Nil Sinha et al. (2000)The Betwa (from confluence of the Yamunaat Hamirpur to Orai84 km06 (d/ssurvey)Sinha et al. (2000)31

The Sind (from confluence with theYamuna)110 km05 (d/ssurvey)Sinha et al. (2000)The Son130 km10 (d/ssurvey)Sinha et al.(2000)The R. Rupnarayan (Gadiara to Mankur,W. B.)42 km 18 WWF Nepal (2006)The BrahmaputraThe Barak River600 km856 km17 km400 (1996)197 (2004-05)12 (Nov.1999)8 (2004)6 (2006)Mohan et al. (1997)Wakid (2009)Pers. comm. Paulan SinghThe Subhansiri River 99 km 26 Wakid (2009)The River Kulsi 76 km 27 Wakid (2009)BangladeshThe Jamuna 189 km 38-50 Smith et al. (1998)The Kushiyara 113 km 34-43 Smith et al. (1998)The Burhi Ganga 03 Smith et al. (1998)The Karnaphuli-Sangu 222 km 131 Smith et al.(2006)The Sundarbans 1488 km 225 Smith et al.(2006)32

NepalThe Karnali (from Kachali to Kotiaghat) 60 km 06 Smith et al.(1994)The Saptakosi (from confluence of Arunand Sun Kosi to Kosi Barrage)60 km 03 Smith et al. (1994)The Narayani (Devghat to Triveni Barrage) 1-2 Smith et al. (1994)The Mahakali Nil Smith et al.(1994)33

TABLE 2:PREY SPECIES OF THE GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN IN THE GANGA RIVER SYSTEMSpecies Nature of Evidence SourceTeleost FishesWallago attu Stomach; seen chasing Anderson (1879); Haque et al. (1977);Shreshtha (1989)Bagarius bagarius Stomach; seen chasing Shreshtha (1989)Mystus seenghala Stomach Shreshtha (1989)Mystus tengra Stomach Kasuya and Haque (1972)Ompok bimaculatus Stomach Shreshtha (1989)Tor putitora Stomach Shreshtha (1989)Chela laubuca Stomach Sinha et al. (1993)Puntius sophore Stomach Sinha et al. (1993)Puntius ticto Stomach Haque and Haque (1992)Puntius sp. Stomach Sinha et al. (1993)Colisa fasciatus Stomach Sinha et al. (1993)Chanda ranga Stomach Sinha et al. (1993)Glossogobius giuris Stomach Sinha et al. (1993); Kasuya and Haque (1972).Mastacembeluspancalus Stomach Sinha et al. (1993); Kasuya and Haque (1972)Nangra nangra Stomach Sinha et al. (1993)Barbus ticto Stomach Kasuya and Haque (1972)Saccobranchus fossilis Stomach Anderson (1879)CrustaceansPenaeus indicus Stomach Shreshtha (1989)Palaemon carcinus Stomach Anderson (1879)Macrobrachium sp. Stomach Kasuya and Haque (1972)MolluscsIndonea coerulea Stomach Shreshtha (1989)Snails with operculam Stomach Sinha et al. (1993)InsectsGomphus sp. (nymphof Odonata) Stomach Sinha et al. (1993)34

TABLE 3:LIST OF PARTICIPANTS AT THE NATIONAL WORKSHOP FOR PREPARATION OF CONSERVATION ACTIONPLAN FOR GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN, 22 – LPHI EBRUARY, 2010Sl. No. Name Address with contact No. & E-mail1. Dr. A. R. Rahmani Director,Bombay Natural History SocietyHornbill House, Salim Ali Chowk,Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai-400 001.Mobile No. 919820516394.e-mail: rahmani.asad@gmail.com2. Dr. Abdul Wakid Aranyak, Survey,Beltola, Guwahati – 781 028 (Assam).Mobile No. 919435033226.e-mail: waked.abdul@gmail.com3. Dr. C. P. Sinha Rtd. Professor (IIT, Roorkee)102, Jairaj VasundharaEast Boring Canal Road, Patna-800 001.Mobile No. 919431016282.4. Dr. (Ms) Dipani Sutaria 9, Ananya Farms,Shilaj,Ahmedabad, Gujrat.e-mail: Dipani.sutaria@jcu.edu.au5. Dr. Gopal Sharma Scientist-B,Zoological Survey of IndiaGangetic Plains Regional StationRoad No. 11D, Rajendranagar, Patna-800 016.Mobile No. 919431221918e-mail: gopal_dolphinboy@rediffmail.com6. Dr. K. K. Vass Ex-Director, CIFRI(Barrackpore)C- 218,POK – 7, KV – 2Sector – 82, NOIDA (UP)Mobile No.919999330182.7. Dr. R. K. Sharma Research Range Officer,National Chambal SanctuaryMorena (MP).Mobile No. 919424791814/ 919425360485.e-mail: rksharma_ncs@yahoo.com8. Dr. R. S. Lalmohan Ex-Scientist, CMFRI(Kochin)43, C. Water Tank RoadNagercoil-629 001, Tamilnadu.Mobile No. 919e-mail: samuelji@2003yahoo.com9. Dr. S. P. Biswas Professor in Life SciencesDibrugarh University, Assam – 786004.Mobile No. 919435033479.e-mail: spbsdu@yahoo.com10. Dr. Sandeep Behra Scientist,WWF- INDIA,172-B, Lodi EstateNew DelhiMobile No. 919312902040/ 919997680505.e-mail: sbehra@wwfindia.net35

11. Dr. Sunil Kumar Verma Dr. S. K. VermaScientist,Centre for Cellular and Molecular BiologyUppal Road, Hyderabad – 500 007.Mobile No. 919908607728.e-mail: sunilverma@ccmb.res.in12. Shri B. A. Khan Chief Wildlife Warden, Bihar.4 th Floor, Technology BhawanBailey Road, Patna-800 001.Mobile No. 919431814962e-mail: khanbasheer55@gmail.com13. Shri P. R. Sinha Director,Wildlife Institute of India,Chandrabani, Dehradun-248 001(Uttarakhand).Phone No. 91-135-2640910(Off.)/ 91 9421057410.14. Dr. R. K. Sinha University ProfessorDepartment of Zoology, Patna University, Patna-800 005.Mobile No. 919431073446e-mail: rksinha.pu@gmail.com/ rksinha_54@sancharnet.in15. Dr. K. Prasad University ProfessorDepartment of Geology, Patna University, Patna-800 005.Mobile No. 919431078883e-mail: kriteshwar.geopat@yahoo.com16. Shri Jugnu Shardeya Member, Bihar State Wildlife Board, Bihar.Mobile No. 919968270101/ 919971821410e-mail: jshardeya@gmail.com17. Dr. Randall R. Reeves Chairman, Cetacean Specialist Group of IUCN.18. Shri Samir KumarSinhaAssistant Manager (Wildlife Trust of India, New Delhi).Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Valmikinagar – 845 107.West Champaran, Bihar.Mobile No. 919939004228e-mail: samir.wild@gmail.com19. Dr. Dilip Kumar Kedia Research AssociateEnvironmental Biology Laboratory,Department of Zoology, Patna University, Patna-800 005.Mobile No. 919835853923e-mail: dilip.kedia@rediffmail.com20. Dr. S. K. Srivastava Professor & Head of Zoology DepartmentPatna University, Patna-800 005.Mobile No. 91943104448536

Appendix A:Anecdotes of Dolphin KillingIn 2001, the Hon’ble Patna High Courtdirected both the State Government of Biharand the Central Government of India to stoppoaching of the Gangetic dolphin. The StateGovernment, in its written affidavit, hadpromised patrolling of the Ganga Riverwhere dolphins were found. The governmentofficials became active and killings werereduced in the following years but recentkillings of dolphins have proved that thesteps taken so far are inadequate.Unfortunately six dolphins, one in Patna inNovember 2009, one in the VikramshilaGangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, and four atPatna on the 29 th April 2010, weredeliberately killed. The poachers were tryingto remove the carcasses from the site, but thelocal people raised the alarm and even peltedstones at the poachers, forcing them toabandon the carcasses. Thus deliberatekillings of six dolphins were recorded sincethe dolphin was declared National AquaticAnimal of India by Hon’ble Prime Ministerof India on 5 th October 2009. There isanecdotal evidence of more killings sinceJanuary 2010 but the carcasses could not berecovered as the killings were reported a fewdays after the incident.Appendix B:Four ways to fish using Dolphin Oila) A mixture of cow-dung and plant seeds,impregnated with dolphin oil, is initiallysprinkled on the flowing river water froman offshore bamboo platform and allowedto disperse downstream(Mohan and Kunhi, 1996). A scoop net,operated by 4-6 fishermen, is then used tocatch the fish that congregate there.b) Another ‘lure’ is prepared using mincedgoat fat and viscera along with somedolphin oil. This lure is carried by handinto waist-deep water and allowed todisperse slowly as the fisherman splashesthe water rhythmically. A scoop net isused again to catch the fish here.It isreported that this type of fishing is carriedout at a number of places in the Ganga,usually downstream from Kahalgaon untilRajmahal.c) The fishermen fix their small fishing boatin the river where the current is strong. Apiece of goat’s head hide with burnt hairshas dolphin oil applied over and is allowedto float in the flowing water, tied with astring with the boat. This allows thedolphin oil to disperse downstream withfast flowing water which attracts the twotarget species of fish to the fixed boat.d) Minced roasted goat’s gut, goat’s fat, anddolphin oil is made into a paste and usedon a simple hook as bait (Sinha 2002).Appendix C:Development of Survey ProtocolThe survey of river dolphins must beconducted with rigorous application of awell-defined design. Unless survey methodsare standardised and made more rigorous,accurate detection of trends in populationabundance will be difficult (Reeves et al.,1993).Certain problems of survey methodology arerelated to the complex morphology offreshwater systems, which tends toconcentrate dolphin distribution inmicrohabitats associated with specifichydrological features (Hua et al., 1989,Smith, 1993) and limits the ability of surveyvessels to follow required search patterns.Annual flood cycles of variable intensity adda strong seasonal element to dolphindistribution and constantly alter the structureof the animals’ alluvial channel habitat.These factors complicate attempts to conductrepeated surveys that are consistent withrespect to coverage and sighting conditions.Such consistency is a requirement fordetecting population trends.Fiscal reality may dictate that surveys will beconducted on a shoe-string budget. In manyinstances, field scientists have limitedexperience with the analytical methods ofpopulation sampling and statistical theory.Moreover, ready access to the computersoftware and hardware needed to analyse37

large volumes of numerical data are required.Therefore, economy and simplicity areimportant when developing survey protocols.Such methods have been proposed by Smithand Reeves (2000). Many of the researchershave been following this method in India andPakistan. However, a training program maybe needed for those who are not aware of thismethod or finding it difficult to adopt due tosome other constraint. Analytical methods ofpopulation sampling and statistical theorywill also be a part of training which helpresearchers in generating reliable andacceptable dolphin data. Thus it is essentialto organise such training program.Appendix DGap AreasThe following gap areas were identified:Areas not surveyed systematically andscientificallyUttar Pradesh•River Ramganga•River Ghaghara from Girijapuri Barrage inBahraich District, U.P. to Ghaghara-Gangaconfluence at Doriganj, Chhapra in Bihar•River Sarda from Sharda Nagar Barrage toBarabanki (confluence of the Sharda andGhaghara)•River Saryu•River Rapti•River Gomti•River Sone•River Yamuna from Chambal-Yamunaconfluence to Yamuna-Ganga confluence atAllahabad.West Bengal•River Jalangi•River Damodar•River Rupnarayan•Sundarbans in Indian territory•Main stem of Ganga below Farraka Barrageto Bangladesh border (~90 Km)Areas within the historical range wherethere is evidence indicating that thedolphins are no longer presentUttar Pradesh•River Ganga between Haridwar and MiddleGanga Barrage at Bijnor.•River Yamuna from Hathnikund toChambal-Yamuna Confluence near Etawah;River Sarda upstream of Sardanagar Barragein District Lakhimpur•Khiri as far up as the river is navigable;•Sarda Link Canal between GirijapuriBarrage and River Sarda.Madhya Pradesh•River Ken•River Betwa•River Sind•River Tons•River SoneBihar•River Sone•River PunpunBihar•River Bagmati,•River Burhi Gandak,•River Skrahana,•River Kamala,•River Balan,•River Mechi at Indo-Nepal border to itsconfluence with Mahananda,•River Mahananda in Indian territory,•River Kosi from Birpur Barrage to Kursela(confluence of Kosi and Ganga)38